01 · the cities
Salinas
Salinas is the Salad Bowl of the World, where most of the country's leafy greens, strawberries, and broccoli come from. John Steinbeck grew up here and the National Steinbeck Center downtown is excellent. The Salinas Rodeo is a century-old summer event. The Monterey Bay is 20 minutes west, but the city itself is a working ag town with strong Mexican-American culture.
full dispatch→Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach is a three-mile boardwalk, a giant Neptune statue keeping watch, and Atlantic surf that's warm in August and gentle in September. The military presence (Navy and Air Force) gives the city a structured, welcoming feel. False Cape and Back Bay nature areas are wild marshland just south of the high-rises. October on the boardwalk might be the prettiest month on the East Coast.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$2,813/mo
$1,819/mo
$994/mo less than Salinas (55%)
Median home price
Median home price
$862k
$375k
$487k less than Salinas
State income tax
State income tax
9.3%
5.8%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$4,745/mo
$6,035/mo
Virginia Beach has $1,290/mo more gross after rent at $100k
Gross left after rent reflects state income tax but not federal, based on $100k salary. Enter your salary to find your ideal city.
03 · the weather
Pleasant days/yr
Pleasant days/yr
335 days
211 days
124 fewer than Salinas
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
0 days
1 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
0 days
2 days
days below 20°F per year
Salinas edges ahead on pleasant days, but both cities have comparable comfort overall.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
71 / 100
57 / 100
14.0 pts behind Salinas
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
6 routes
17 routes
11 more direct routes than Salinas
Metro size
Metro size
431k metro
1.8M metro
the verdict
2
Salinas
categories won
5
Virginia Beach
categories won
Virginia Beach wins on money. Salinas has the edge on weather.
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